Tyler Ryder Leads Rivermen to 2-1 Overtime Win & 1-0 Finals Lead
April 30, 2026 - 11:15 pm
PEORIA, IL – In Game Five of the semifinals, it was rookie Kullan Daikawa who was Peoria’s hero. In Game One of the President’s Cup Finals, it was rookie Tyler Ryder who became an overtime hero as his first-ever playoff goal in the pros lifted the Rivermen to a 2-1 victory on Thursday over the Evansville Thunderbolts at Carver Arena. In addition to Ryder, Griffen Fox also scored for the Rivermen while goaltender Nick Latinovich made 19 saves on 20 shots.
The Rivermen now lead the best-of-five series 1-0 following Thursday’s win. Peoria will be back in action for Game Two of the Finals on Friday, May 1, at 7:15 pm at Carver Arena.
FIRST PERIOD
The Rivermen came out of the gates strong in the first period, winning board battles, races, and earning a plethora of chances, outshooting the Thunderbolts 12-4 by period’s end. The game’s opening goal came late in the frame as Alec Baer skated it up from his own zone, weaved through traffic, and took the puck wide left before cutting to the front of the net. Baer threw the puck to the crease area where Griffen Fox was able to get a stick on it and bury for his third goal of the post-season to put the Rivermen up 1-0.
SECOND PERIOD
Evansville came back with a hot start in the second period, but could not find the back of the net to tie the game. Rivermen goaltender Nick Latinovich, the Rivermen defense held the Thunderbolts in check for the most part, but at the same time, could not extend their own lead despite some quality chances for Peoria.
THIRD PERIOD
Despite a relatively even third period, the Evansville Thunderbolts found the late tying goal around the mid-point of the third period on a shot from the right-wing circle that beat Latinovich short-side high. The Rivermen had quality chances to take the lead back in the closing minutes of the third, but several exceptional saves by Evansville goaltender Kristian Stead kept the game tied, and for the first time this postseason, the Rivermen went to overtime tied 1-1.
OVERTIME
It only took one minute and 28 seconds for the Rivermen to find the back of the net in overtime. On a broken play, rookie defenseman Tyler Ryder found the puck in the high slot and skated to his left to avoid a block from an Evansville defender. Skating to the left-wing circle and fired a shot low that beat Stead between the legs. The overtime tally for Ryder was his first of the post-season, and it marked Peoria’s fourth overtime win in the playoffs in the last five years.
Photo: Claire Schaffner - Peoria Rivermen
